“I still consider the exhibition game the first game in that park,” he said with a grin.

Lohse was the winning pitcher for the Cardinals in an April 2, 2010 exhibition game at Target Field against the Twins. Lohse returns Thursday to make his first regular-season start at the stadium. It will be his first meeting with the Twins since he was traded to Cincinnati in 2006.

“It’s weird being in the league that long and not have had a [regular-season game] there,” he said. “So it will be pretty cool to see that park again.”

Lohse, 34, has mostly positive memories of his time in with the Twins, the team with whom he broke into the majors with in 2001. He was 51-57 in six seasons there, but things deteriorated late in his stint when he didn’t see eye-to-eye with pitching coach Rick Anderson on some things and, in a fit of rage, took a bat to manager Ron Gardenhire’s office door after being removed from a game in 2005.

“The way it happened when I went out of there, I wish it could have been different but it is what it is. You learn from mistakes, you learn how you can handle things and move on. I think both sides could say the same thing.

“One thing about me then, I was going through some struggles on the field and I would just try to go harder and harder and try to go harder. That doesn’t work out, I figured out. When I went to St. Louis [in 2008], I figured out what type of pitcher I should be.

“The things you learn when you are older, you wish you knew when you were younger.”

He’s 68-57 in eight National League seasons. He is 1-5 with a 3.76 ERA with the Brewers.

Plouffe to be activated

Third baseman Trevor Plouffe took batting practice before Tuesday’s game with no problems and is expected to be activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list.

Plouffe has passed his SCAT-2 — Sports Concussion Assessment Test — and the club has to submit the necessary paperwork to the league office. MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green must give his approval before Plouffe can play.

The Twins will announce a corresponding roster move Wednesday. The Twins are carrying 13 pitchers and might go back to 12.

Ramirez not well

Outfielder Wilkin Ramirez, however, still is dealing with concussion symptoms after colliding with Josh Willingham on Saturday, “He’s still a little shaky,” Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. “I’m not sure at this point if he will be ready in those seven days or not.”

The Twins have yet to administer the SCAT-2 test to Ramirez.

Etc.

• Outfielder Oswaldo Arcia, sent down to Class AAA Rochester on Saturday, didn’t play Monday because of a sore shoulder. He will be limited to designated hitter work while he works on shoulder strengthening exercises.

• Liam Hendricks (elbow) is close to being activated from the disabled list at Rochester and returning to the Red Wings rotation. He is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday.

• Antony, on righthander Vance Worley’s five-hit shutout for Rochester on Monday. “I don’t think he’s a different guy with one start. On the other side of it, you’re glad that he went out and competed.”

• Outfielder Darin Mastroianni (ankle surgery) will have the cast removed Wednesday in the Twin Cities during a checkup. If everything looks good, he will be fitted with a walking boot.